When someone tells you that you can't support responsible gun ownership AND gun reform, take a breath, find your courage, and speak truth to bullshit. Both are possible. At the exact same time. Don't let people frame the debate for you.

One of my favorite people in the world is Krista Tippett – I love her work, books, and her On Being Studios podcast. Our conversation about true belonging is out today. I tried to become the interviewer several times (I have SO many questions for her), but she'd have none of it! You can listen here:

Turning toward what's hard and scary and vulnerable is not a default choice (at least it's not mine). But over the years I've learned that the energy I spend trying to avoid my fear is best spent walking right toward it with an open and willing heart. Easy? Heck no. Does it get easier? Not always. Worth it? So far it's been worth it every single time.

This image is our free download on brenebrown.com for January. We change it every month so you have today and tomorrow to grab it. Just scroll to the bottom of the home page.

UPDATE: The conversation will be livestreamed from Riverside Church on Thursday, 2/1, at 7:00 pm ET. Livestream link: trcnyc.org/tctsu. You can also watch it with the same link for 24 hours after the event.

Just landed in DC. Giving the sermon at the National Cathedral tomorrow morning. I thought stopping by tonight might normalize the idea of the episcopal mothership. Wow. It’s so impressive. And beautiful. And sacred. What an honor!

I love that one year ago today I was in DC marching with my daughter Ellen. The message is the same: Love. Faith. Justice. Two out of three won’t work.

You can watch a webcast of the sermon live on the link below. We start at 10:30am EST and th...e service ends at 12:30pm #HighChurch. Bishop Budde and I will have a conversation from 12:45pm - 1:30pm.

"I’m thrilled to announce that January’s book pick is Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown. January is my time to think about what I want to accomplish this ye...ar ... not necessarily resolutions, more questions of how I can expand my heart and my mind. That’s why I found this book so helpful. Did you have any conversations over the holidays where you just didn’t see eye-to-eye with a family member or a dear friend? This book speaks to that! Brené Brown speaks of how divided our world is politically, socially, racially, and how we can bridge that divide with more civility and consciousness. Listening is key. Compassion is key. Be strong in your beliefs but not without the ability to learn more. I learned so much about communication from this book, and I hope you will too. I can't wait to hear your thoughts about this thought-provoking book." - Reese Witherspoon

This was one of my biggest learnings from the research on Braving the Wilderness. It's changed how I move through the world, how I talk to my children about belonging, and how I think about our culture at work. It's my wish for all of us.

On Thursday, the Trump administration issued a list of words for the CDC to avoid or not use. It’s unclear if it’s a ban or “how to best get funded” advice. Either way, two of those words are “evidence-based” and “vulnerable” — words that have defined my career.

Regardless of our politics, we have to acknowledge that when we start issuing word bans to scientific organizations we’ve lost our way. This is not normal. This is not who we are.

UPDATE: After carefully reviewing the... reports from various news outlets and comments from the CDC, I stand by my post. There has been no direct denial of a list of words that shouldn’t be used.

Is it a ban? Unclear. Is it advice to procure funding? Unclear. Is it dangerous? Clear.

Thank you. The Love Flash Mob is done, and once again: YOU MADE A MIRACLE!!!!!

Because of your commitment to show up for our sisters:

Hope on Haven Hill will r...eceive $175,000 dollars -- which is EXACTLY the amount of money needed to secure the transitional home for Ari, Haven, and the other warrior mamas and babies. They will have their home, to continue to heal and STAY with their babies. Because of you.

It was always our intention and commitment to give Martha’s Place the exact same amount that we gave to Hope on Haven Hill.

Martha's Place's dream number -- the number that would keep their life-saving, community-healing work going for the next year -- was $103,000. An hour ago, they learned that they’d be receiving $175,000.

The world is a hard place, and pain abounds. The world is also a beautiful place where love abounds.

To send a message to Americans suffering from addiction: You matter. And you’re not alone.

Join me and The Compassion Collective in a #LoveFlashMob to raise funds for two non-profits – Martha’s Place of Baltimore, MD and Hope on Haven Hill of Rochester, NH – who show up at the frontlines of the addiction crisis and create change every day in their communities.

...

Today, at Martha’s Place we would like to fund an addictions counselor to meet regularly with the recovering women; a program director to help the women with family reintegration, job skills and placement; investment in alumni mentorship coordination; and critically necessary repairs to the homes.

For Hope on Haven Hill we would like to fund the purchase of a transitional home for the graduates of their program. It’s nearly impossible to find safe, affordable housing after recovering, even though the women are working and going to school. Nor are there any transitional houses in New Hampshire where a woman can live with her baby after recovery. This would be the first of its kind in the state.

Please give what you can today—small gifts of $5, $15, $25. Every donation matters. Thank y’all for always showing up with big hearts.